Once
in a Million
by Peter Kingsbery

Peter
Kingsbery has one of the most passionate voices in popular music.
Its warmth and timbre, lengthening of vowels and almost wailing
voicing of words are well adapted to songs dealing with heart-felt
emotions of love and longing, hope and despair. Of which he has
written his fair share.

— • —

When Peter (born 1952 and raised in Austin, Texas)
graduated from the music conservatory in 1974, he immediately went
to Nashville, Tennessee. The idea was to "detoxicate"
himself of all the classical music, down in the capital of country.
Goal accomplished (?), he took his synthesiser under his arm and
moved back west, not stopping until Los Angeles, with dreams of
making a living writing songs.

One year later, in 1977, he made an encounter that
would prove vital. Via a mutual friend and guitarist he met with
a sparkling teenage girl of mixed Chinese-Italian descent. She was
brought up to Elvis Presley (mother was a big fan) and digging fast
and furious music. She was participating in different kinds of stage
shows and loved to dance and perform. Peter was impressed by the
exuberant 15 year old with her vibrant voice, and his musical skills
made a big impression on her – Anna LaCazio.

And in this case the first impression came to last.
Years later the two of them indeed started singing together. Just
for the fun of it, and for those wanting to listen. Peter was struggling
as a songwriter, and Anna was only beginning to find a place for
herself and her fondness of voice and movement.

— • —

Eventually dreams came true. In 1985 Anna was center
stage, with the tambourine in hand, dancing and wailing to the songs
of Peter. Part of a pop group Cock Robin which finally had gained
a record contract after lots of stumbling efforts on the road. Alongside
the singer-songwriter and the young Anna there were Louis Molino
III and Clive Wright.

Cock Robin was born amidst the British wave of pop
romantics, and the band was heavily into light pop ballads and synthesized
dance rhythms. Initially the group fared quite well, performing
for the same public as the likes of Cyndi Lauper. Well-crafted and
melodic songs like "When Your Heart Is Weak" and "Just
Around the Corner" kept their record company content, and the
delicate singing of Peter and Anna became popular even abroad. Or,
let's say, mostly abroad.

European tours followed, and their fanbase in countries
like France (where Peter's singing style is well known and loved as part of the "French chanson") and Germany continued to grow. While they had apparent
problems of making a name for themselves at home. Finally, in 1990,
this sadly lead to the end of Cock Robin.

— • —

The group then consisted mainly of Anna LaCazio
and Peter Kingsbery. Anna vanished almost completely from the music
scene, witnessing an sadly aborted record release in the late '90s
(featuring more rockish, very engaging material). She has only now
and then surfaced on local performances, often joining in with background
singing. For years she has been living in the Californian desert.

Peter, who's troubled relationship with Anna preceded
the break-up of the band, moved to France and continued a solo career.
One cannot say he has had the best of luck. The quartet of records
produced all witness his sense for emotional pop and carefully crafted
songs, but continuing the (European) success of Cock Robin was quite
another trick. Bad experiences with record companies, producers
quitting half-way through a recording and tours being aborted have
been all too common. And two of his albums are nowadays almost impossible
to buy, through any kind of dealer.

Still Peter is a respected artist within the French
music community, making friends around. He has been performing at
festivals and recording with jazz ensembles. In 2002 came his first
stab at making a record singing in French. It was an inevitable
next step, considering his vocal qualities and the French tradition
of chanson.

— • —

My own favourite of the solo albums is "Once
in a Million". I still miss Anna's voice on it, but here Peter
is in top shape, musically as well as with the lyrics. The fact
that a lot of producers have been involved in the making on the
album doesn't take away a thing from its qualities...

Sensitive and restrained use of piano and electric
guitar ("Sorry for Myself") brings backmemories of late
Cock Robin efforts. Harmonicas play emotional duos with electric
guitar ("Bells of Freedom"). Spare use of strings and
backing vocals add dynamic relief ("There's No Magic to It").
And when lyrics make room for really strong feelings, the arrangement
is up to it ("Madness"). But most of all Peter's own voice
shines as bright as the sun (witness the soft wailing in "Brand
New Year").

Maybe there still is a place for a singer-songwriter
with more talent for heart-felt emotions than gimmickry. Looking
at Cock Robin's aftermath one might believe so. Remarkably enough,
for a band only producing three albums during its short lifespan,
there have been no less than eleven (11) "best of" collections
and such put out on the marketplace. So far. //

— • —

PS. Update of 2007. Miracles happen. After so many
years apart, Peter and Anna recently started working together again.
And last year the duo reformed Cock Robin, releasing (at least in
France) a studio album of new material and embarking on a French
tour. And they sound like they always have. Remarkable.

ONCE
IN A MILLION
(Barclay, 1995)

•
Better You Know
• After All's Said and Done
• Sorry for Yourself
• There's No Magic to It (EXCERPT)
• Bells of Freedom
• Once in a Million
• Brand New Year
• Madness
• Nothing but a Stranger
• Blinded
• Wedding Day
• Stirred in Water